In this review, the OPO reflects on our first year. We have made a number of changes to ensure we meet the expectations of the community. This includes redefining the mission to focus on three critical areas: providing impartial oversight, increasing transparency, and building partnerships. We will issue a more comprehensive annual report in 2020.
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2018-2019
End of Year Report
(512) 974-9090 | www.atxpoliceoversight.org | 1520 Rutherford Lane
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
1. Who We Are
2. Transforming Accountability
a. Online Complaint and Thank You Form
b. Complaint Process
c. OPO Data Breakdown
3. Building Partnerships
a. Community Outreach and Engagement
b. Transition Advisory Committee
c. Equity Space Summit
d. Community Leaders Breakfast
4. Enhancing Transparency
a. Website and Official Documents
a. Social Media
c. Know Your Rights Video Series
5. Looking Forward
a. Racial Profiling Analysis
b. Community-Police Mediation Program
c. APD Training Academy Curriculum Proposal
A N o t e F r o m O u r
D i r e c t o r
On November 15, 2018, the Office of Police Oversight was established via unanimous
vote by the Austin City Council. This was a tremendous moment for Austin as the
community, City of Austin management and staff, City Council, the Austin Police
Department, the Austin Police Association, and many stakeholders came together to
expand the scope of police oversight for the purposes of greater transparency and
accountability.
We have taken a holistic approach to oversight that prioritizes communication,
collaboration and a greater commitment to accountability. This new approach is a
reflection of our culture and beliefs in Austin and I am confident that we are on the right
path!
OPO has had an awesome first year, and there is much more to come. We aim to be a
national model for civilian police oversight and proof that effective oversight can lead to
systemic change and improved public trust of law enforcement.
M i s s i o n S t a t e m e n t
Our new mission statement reflects input and feedback
from the community
Our Vision: To enhance a culture of accountability
and transparency within policing in Austin
W h o W e A r e
The mission of the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is to
provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police
Department’s conduct, practices, and policies to enhance
accountability, inform the public to increase transparency,
and create sustainable partnerships throughout the
community.
OPO
Strategic
Direction
Provide
Inform
Create
T r a n s f o r m i n g
A c c o u n t a b i l i t y
Online Complaint/Thank You Form
One of the biggest advancements we made this year was creating a website
where individuals can file a Complaint or Thank You about the Austin Police
Department (APD). This service is for anyone who experienced or observed
an interaction with APD and wants to provide feedback. Our online
complaint form underwent detailed user accessibility testing to ensure it is
easy to use. The form accepts anonymous complaints, and the only required
information is what happened during the incident, the date, time, and
location. The form is also available in Spanish.
Complaint Process Manual
We created a manual that streamlines
the complaint process to enhance
structure and consistency of
impartiality.
OPO and Internal Affairs have
memorialized current practices and
agreements to create a Joint Standard
Operating Procedure.
OPO's improved complaint process ensures
that from the moment a complaint is
received, we oversee the investigation
conducted by APD Internal Affairs. We
update the complainant of the status of the
investigation and the outcome to
resolution.
Joint
Standard
Operating
Procedure
Office of
Police
Oversight
APD
Internal
Affairs
Complaint Process
of contacts had a preliminary review.
This is an assessment OPO conducts
in order to recommend potential
policy violations and classification to
APD Internal Affairs.
OPO Data Breakdown
December 1, 2018- December 1, 2019
Responsibility to
the Community
Impartial
Attitude
& Courtesy
General Conduct
& Responsibility
Response to
Resistance
Property and
Equipment
Common Complaint Allegations
Contacts to OPO were made.
These contacts originate online,
from phone calls, emails, in
person, and by mail. Contacts
may or may not result in an
official complaint.
Thank Yous received for
APD officers.
The Challenge
Building sustainable partnerships is at the forefront of our
goal to earn community trust. OPO works to utilize focused
outreach in a manner that is equity-minded, empathetic, and
prioritizes direct connection with community. The following
page contains examples of our outreach work.
According to OPO survey results and
conversations with community, fear of
retaliation is a significant barrier to
filing reports with our office. We
recognize that fear and mistrust in
policing and City government is a
reality for some in our community. Our
goal is to develop strategies to make
our processes more accessible to
the community, so that challenges and
concerns can be properly addressed.
The Solution
B u i l d i n g
P a r t n e r s h i p s
Dove Springs Back to School Bash
Presentation to Del Valle ISD
Parent Support Specialists
Community Engagement
Meeting with
Asian American Community
Leaders
Community Office Hours at Ruiz
Branch Library
National Night Out at Santa
Rita Court
Know Your Rights Presentation for
People Experiencing Homelessness
Equity Space Summit
The importance of generational and
historical context to community fear
with respect to law enforcement and
police interactions.
Exploring how focused outreach as a
tool of community engagement can
address fear and mistrust and bridge
the gap between communities and
institutions.
OPO presented at Equity Space, a
solution-focused conference designed to
advance a national dialogue and inspire
action to improve the conditions for a
socially equitable and inclusive
community.
We focused on two key messages:
Transition Advisory
Committee
The Transition Advisory Committee
is made up of a diverse group of 10
community members that provided
feedback on the direction of OPO
during our critical first year.
Community Leaders Breakfast
At this biannual event, OPO invites community leaders to learn more about
the work the office has done to transform accountability and increase
transparency as well as our upcoming projects. This event also provides a
forum for community members to ask questions and address any concerns
regarding policing and oversight.
February 2019 Community Leaders Breakfast
November 2019 Community Leaders Breakfast
E n h a n c i n g
T r a n s p a r e n c y
New Website: atxpoliceoversight.org
External Complaint Led to
Formal Discipline
External Complaint
By implementing a new website, we can now make external complaints OPO
recommendations, reports, and formal discipline notices available to the public
Samples of Website Content
Know Your Rights is a long-term initiative
designed to educate the community on their
rights when interacting with law enforcement.
Currently, the initiative consists of two
segments: The Right to Remain Silent and
Immigrant Rights. These videos are currently
available in English and Spanish. With the help
of community volunteers, these videos will
soon be available in Hindi, Urdu, Vietnamese,
Mandarin, and Korean. The videos can be
found on the OPO Facebook page.
Social Media
By creating a presence on social media, we enhance transparency and provide
the community with information and updates. Through social media, we aim
to build relationships with community members and increase awareness of
our office as a resource.
Know Your Rights Video Series
@ATX_OPO
ATX Police Oversight
Racial Profiling Analysis
APD Training Academy Curriculum Project:
To address the City of Austin Strategic Direction 2023 Safety Outcome
of Fair Administration of Justice, the OPO, Office of Innovation, and
Equity Office engaged a data analysis to understand how various
ethnic/racial groups in Austin experience Austin Police Department
(APD) motor vehicle stops and searches.
The report will examine APD motor vehicle stop data from 2015-2018
and will include recommendations to address racial/ethnic disparities.
The report indicates an upward trend of disparity in motor vehicle
stops for Hispanics/Latinos and Black/African Americans from 2015-
2018. The full report will be released in early 2020.
Community-Police Mediation Program
In partnership with the University of Texas Law School, we are developing a new
mediation program to help all parties feel safe, heard, and comfortable in order to
work together to resolve complaints.
This course seeks to provide historical context to interactions between future and
current Austin Police Officers and the communities they police. This proposal will trace
policing in the United States back to its origins and demonstrate how police and race
relations are inextricably intertwined.
L o o k i n g F o r w a r d
The History of Race and Police in America
A Complaint or Thank You may be submitted
online, by phone, fax, mail, email, or in person.
Our office hours are:
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
"The community is yearning for more. By listening to
their needs and taking action, OPO is determined to
provide the results and the excellence the community
deserves."
-OPO Director, Farah Muscadin
W a y s t o C o n t a c t
E x c e l l e n c e i s t h e
E x p e c t a t i o n
Thank you to our wonderful staff who have
contributed to this year's success.